Bible Character Explorer
New Testament • c. 1 BC to AD 64-68
Peter
Apostle and RockThe fisherman who became a pillar of the church through failure and restoration
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 16:18 (KJV)
Overview
Peter is the most prominent of the twelve apostles in the Gospel accounts. His story is one of bold declarations and spectacular failures followed by genuine restoration. He walked on water and sank. He confessed Jesus as the Christ and then rebuked him. He drew a sword in Gethsemane and cut off an ear. He denied Jesus three times and wept bitterly. And then, after the resurrection, Jesus restored him on the shores of Galilee and commissioned him to feed his sheep. Peter went on to preach at Pentecost, open the gospel to the Gentiles through Cornelius, and write two letters that are part of the New Testament.
Gospel Connection
Peter's life is a living illustration of the gospel. He was called not because of his qualifications but despite his lack of them. He failed dramatically and was restored completely. He became, by grace, the man who preached the first sermon of the Christian era and watched three thousand people respond to Jesus Christ in a single day. First Peter 2:9 records him describing believers as 'a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.' These are the same words used of Israel in Exodus 19. Peter is saying that what God promised Israel now belongs to all who are in Christ. The fisherman who sank in the water became a foundation stone of the community that Jesus is still building.
Discover More
See how this life points to Christ in the Gospel Connection section above.